Understanding Raw Footage

At Dream Engine, where possible, we provide clients with raw footage from their shoots. We know it can be valuable if you plan to create future edits or archive every shot we captured.

Before we share the files, it’s essential to understand what you’ll be receiving and what’s involved in handling it. Raw footage isn’t like a finished video that plays easily on your laptop. It’s professional material created for post-production, and there are a few things you should know before requesting it.

1. The Files Are Very Large

Raw video files occupy a substantial amount of storage space. A single project can easily reach hundreds of gigabytes.

This means:

• You’ll need a fast and stable internet connection to download it.

• The download process can take many hours, or even days, depending on your internet speed.

• You’ll need ample hard drive space to store and back up your data.

If your team plans to work with the material, use large-capacity drives and reliable backup systems.

2. The Footage Will Look Flat or “Grey”

When you first open the files, you might notice that the images look pale, flat, or washed out. This is intentional. We shoot in a professional colour profile called LOG, which captures a broader range of detail in both bright and dark areas.

Shooting in LOG enables us to achieve the polished, cinematic look you see in our finished videos.

If you or your team plan to edit the raw footage, you’ll need to:

• Apply a LUT (Look-Up Table) to restore colour and contrast.

• Use an editing program that supports LOG footage, such as Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, or Final Cut Pro.

Without applying a LUT, the footage will continue to look grey and flat, which can be confusing if you haven’t worked with LOG before.

3. You’ll Need the Right Software and Hardware

We record using professional video codecs that deliver excellent quality and flexibility in post-production. To view and edit these files properly, your computer must be sufficiently powerful and correctly configured.

Make sure your setup includes:

• Up-to-date video codecs installed on your system.

• A graphics card and processor capable of handling 4K or higher resolution footage.

• Plenty of storage space and fast drives such as SSDs or RAID arrays.

If you’re unsure whether your system can handle the files, we can advise you before we transfer them.

4. Support Beyond Delivery

We’re happy to supply raw footage whenever you need it. However, please note that technical support and troubleshooting are not included in the standard delivery.

If you’d like help setting up your editing system, installing codecs, or working with LOG footage, we can provide this as an additional service. Our team can also prepare the material in a more accessible format for an extra fee.

5. Alternative Delivery Option: Hard Drive Couriered to You

If downloading isn’t practical, we can purchase a hard drive on your behalf and have it couriered directly to you. This avoids long download times and ensures you receive the full-quality files quickly and securely.

Please note that this service is beyond the scope of the original project and is charged separately. If you’d like us to handle this for you, contact us for a quote, and we’ll provide the most efficient option for your needs.

Next Steps

We want to help you get the most value from your video production. Understanding what’s involved in working with raw footage will help you decide whether it’s the right option for your team.